Optimism

Day 17 #DailyWritingChallenge

I think that anyone who knows me or meets me would be right to interpret the smile on my face as a sign of my optimistic nature. I like to see the positive in most things and I try to be hopeful about it all. I’m pretty sure I get that from my mum. The belief that life is full of lots of moments and memories that we can learn from as long as it helps us become better, was something my mum wholeheartedly believed in because of her faith. As a praticising Muslim, she taught us the ephemerality of life; that nothing, whether joyous or sad would last forever unless we wanted it to stay with us. We were taught that every aspect of our lives was a test and that there is always comfort and ease after difficulty. 

Let me be honest though. Since my mum’s passing nearly two years ago, the grief has been overwhelming and has, on many occasions, led me to the darkest of places where the light of optimism could not be seen. What has helped me deal with my grief is my faith, my mum’s teachings and my wonderful family and friends. In the Qur’an, there are two verses which repeat the words ‘with every hardship comes ease.’ I use these verses as a constant reminder to be hopeful of what the future holds but also to understand the present for what it is and seek help when needed. And when I can’t remember the words in sadness, I have kind people who remind me of them.

You see, for me, being optimistic doesn’t mean that we don’t see the reality of what is happening; we need to accept that too many people are losing their lives. We need to acknowledge that so many of our teachers, NHS staff and other key workers are putting their health and lives at risk and that so many of our young people and colleagues will return to school changed in more ways than we can currently know. Being optimistic though means being hopeful that we will find the light switch in the darkness and there will be ease after this life changing moment in this present plight. Being optimistic means preparing to help and support each other now and when we return to ‘normality’ whatever that might look like. 

Like my friend Rahima said to me: ‘you’re not an outright optimist because you see the issues and problems…but you have a can-do approach.’ She’s right-I do try to find solutions and be hopeful whether at home or at work but in this difficult and challenging time, it has been hard to have a can-do approach. But this is when I’ll remind myself of my mum’s teachings and that ‘verily, with every hardship comes ease.’